finalis

I live half an hour from the Rockies, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with my husband Doug, and our two daughters, Cassandra, and Alayna, and our Husky dog, Nikki. We love to be outside, and enjoy spending time in the mountains, skiing and mountain biking.

The idea of designing fabric has been a journey for me. I have always wanted to design fabric, but until recently, never really knew how to go about it.

I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts in printmaking and drawing, and then went on to work as an editor and art director for a stock photography company. I had the privilege of working with many talented photographers and illustrators over the years.

After my girls were born, I realized that they would only be little once, and chose not to go back to work as an art director. I started my own business at home, called "Twobloom," and began creating personalized illustrations and growth charts for children.

I was introduced to Spoonflower by my cousin Lisa. Lisa is one of those people who can sew really well. We had a wedding in the family and we wanted to give the couple something unique and personal, so we combined our talents. I designed some personalized fabric for the couple, and Lisa transformed it into some really fun and original kitchen items. The idea of printing custom fabric was amazing to me. I have been hooked on Spoonflower ever since!

I entered the contest, because I have a passion for creativity. I enjoy the creative process of fabric design, and am learning to combine my artistic ability with the technical aspects of designing fabric. It is challenging and has become my passion!

Even though I can spend hours designing and drawing on the computer, I love nothing more than a sharp pencil, or a paintbrush dripping with paint. I recently finished some watercolor paintings for some wedding invitations (and I'm already thinking about how I can transform them into fabric…) and I have two giant canvases sitting in my studio that are calling my name.

Recently I picked up a "Quilts and More" magazine by Better Homes And Gardens. I was inspired by a designer named Sandi Henderson. She says, "It is amazing what you can do if you're passionate about something and you go for it." I love that her passion is now her life's work. That is my aspiration! Another designer I love is Laura Gunn. Because I come from a fine art background, I am intrigued with how she translates her paintings into fabric.

I love to illustrate for children so the theme of this contest really appealed to me. When I picture a little boy, I see him heading out on a big adventure. Riding, driving or playing with something that has wheels is an important part of his imaginary journey. My design is based on a watercolor illustration of an old pedal car. I love the shapes of vintage cars and bicycles. These images, combined with the iconic "little red wagon" led me to design something that I thought would be appealing to a baby boy, and his parents. The colors I chose are in keeping with the vintage look, and also includes plenty of contrast for baby to look at. It has been fun to create, I'm thrilled that people like it, and I feel honoured to be in the top ten with so many other amazing designers.